How is your heart?
How are you doing? That’s a hard question to answer these days, isn’t it? It’s January. It’s dark, cold, and wet. We’ve got a few months ahead of being inside. Rhythms that ground us like going to the gym have been once again withdrawn. Some of us have been sick. Others of us soon will be. Church went back on zoom for January. More adjustments. More decisions. Does anyone feel frustrated? Done? Tired? If you are, I get it! You have every reason to be.
Johanna has a question that I hear her ask her friends, “How’s your heart?” I like that question. It invites us to sink into ourselves and be aware of what we are carrying. I imagine God asking us that question, too. I imagine God gathering our face in her hands, peering into our eyes, and really really listening to our response with her loving gaze.
And I think as we learn to do this, as we learn to let go and allow God to gather us into that loving gaze, something tight and guarded slowly begins to relax and soften inside. We allow ourselves to be loved.
I offer you this picture of Johanna and my mom as a window into the loving gaze of God. See how she looks at my mom with such love and kindness and affection? Imagine now that the face being held is yours. And the hands that hold your face are God’s. Let all that is in your heart rise to the surface to be seen and gathered up in God’s loving gaze.
Peace be with you, friends.
May you find that shard of light buried in the darkness today.
Amen.
Worship Calendar
Location & Zoom. We meet on Sundays at 15639 24 Avenue, Surrey. Zoom is offered if you cannot attend in person. Zoom link. Meeting ID: 831 1690 9977 password: 753319
Listen to Sermons
Follow “Meditations from the Church at Southpoint” on Spotify, Apple and Google
Blogs
Catch up on Anne’s recent blogs under “News” on our website, southpoint.ca
Sun Apr 7
(2) Opening to Love
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
John 21:1-19
Sun Apr 14
(3) Receiving Clarity
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
Acts 3:12-19
Sun Apr 21
Rev Scott Swanson
Acts 4:5-12
New to Southpoint?
At Southpoint, it all begins with God’s love. Just as a plant grows, it receives sunshine, so we grow as we receive God’s love. At Southpoint, we are growing in our capacity to love God, ourselves, one another, and creation.
We seek to be a community of grace that is intentional yet organic, spacious yet authentic, grace-filled yet accountable. * We are fully welcoming. *
We encourage relationships rather than run programs, yet we recognize the importance of intentionality and structure as we nurture life together.
As a community, we seek to put our love in action. We value helping out on Sunday mornings, sharing food, and showing up in hard times. We keep our church life simple so folk have time to build relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. We encourage folk to serve in tangible ways within the wider community. We rent space rather than own a building, allowing us to do more with less, supporting missions at home and abroad.
Curious to know more?
These six slides express what motivates our ministry (best viewed on a monitor). Here’s the bio of our Pastor, Rev. Anne Baxter Smith.
If you’d like to really peek inside, sign up for our weekly Southpoint News (scroll to brown footer at bottom of page). The Southpoint News is a MailChimp distributed email—you can unsubscribe anytime and will not be added to our contacts list. Email us at office@southpoint.ca. Website: southpoint.ca.
Zooming Through January
When you body surf, some waves you ride and others, well, when they approach you do a quick dive under to avoid being pummelled! In response to the rapid surge of Covid cases in our church and wider community, our Leadership Team called for a quick, deep dive to let the worst of this surge go by. We have planned for zoom worship on Sunday 23 and 30 and we WILL resurface in-person in February!
If you’d like to join one of our zoom services, please contact Karin, office@southpoint.ca
Meanwhile, we’re in the quiet roaring space under this big wave. Please be in touch with Anne or Karin if your family is affected and needs support or assistance. (office@southpoint.ca)
Sun. Jan. 23, 10:00 am
Speaker: Anne Smith
A Glimpse of One Who Delights
Isaiah 62: 1-5
Sun. Jan. 30, 10:00 am
Speaker: Anne Smith
A Glimpse of One Who Nourishes
Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5, 6, 8-10
Sun. Feb. 6
Speaker: Anne Smith
A Glimpse of One Who Consecrates
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
Sun. Feb. 13
Speaker: Anne Smith
A Glimpse of One Who Sends
Isaiah 6: 1-8 (9-13)
Sun. Feb. 20
Speaker: Anne Smith
A Glimpse of One Who Preserves
Genesis 45: 3-11, 15
Sun. Feb. 27 All Out
There will be no service in the Sunnyside building.
New to Southpoint?
At Southpoint, it all begins with God’s love. Just as a plant grows, it receives sunshine, so we grow as we receive God’s love. At Southpoint, we are growing in our capacity to love God, ourselves, one another, and creation.
We seek to be a community of grace that is intentional yet organic, spacious yet authentic, grace-filled yet accountable. * We are fully welcoming. *
We encourage relationships rather than run programs, yet we recognize the importance of intentionality and structure as we nurture life together.
As a community, we seek to put our love in action. We value helping out on Sunday mornings, sharing food, and showing up in hard times. We keep our church life simple so folk have time to build relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. We encourage folk to serve in tangible ways within the wider community. We rent space rather than own a building, allowing us to do more with less, supporting missions at home and abroad.
Curious to know more?
These six slides express what motivates our ministry (best viewed on a monitor). Here’s the bio of our Pastor, Rev. Anne Baxter Smith.
If you’d like to really peek inside, sign up for our weekly Southpoint News (scroll to brown footer at bottom of page). The Southpoint News is a MailChimp distributed email—you can unsubscribe anytime and will not be added to our contacts list. Email us at office@southpoint.ca. Website: southpoint.ca.
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